ARRIVAL OF THE "WONGA WONGA,"

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1829, 12 February 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE "WONGA WONGA,"

DISASTROUS WRECK OF H. M. S. S. ORPHEUS, AT AUCKLAND. COMMODORE BARNETP DROWNED. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVISN LIVES LOST. PRAISEWORTHY EXERTIONS op CAPT. RENNER, OFFICERS, AND CREW OF THE WONGA WONGA. The s.s. Wonga Wonga, Captain Renner, from Manakau, via Taranaki, Nelson, and Picton, arrived in this harbor yesterday afternoon, at 5.15 p.m. She sailed from the Onehunga wharf, Manakau, on Saturday last, at 12 noon. On arriving at the bar, at about 2 p.m she noticed a vessel in the offing, apparently a man-of-war, but the signal being up to take the south channel, the Wonga proceeded on her course. On getting well clear of the channel, Captain Renner noticed the vessel to be laboring very heavily and apparently ashore. Captain Renner then proceeded to the outer entrance of the North Channel, and signalised her, asking if he could be of auy assistance ; but receiving no answer, and being unable to take the north channel on ae*, count of the heavy sea on the bur, he returned to the pilot's station by the Sonth Channel. Ou reaching the pilot's station, he found two bouts, the pinnace and cutter, belonging to the ill-fated vessel, in charge of the second lieutenant and a midshipman who had landed the mail, and ship's papers. Captain Rentier then learned that the vessel on tho south spit was H.M.S.S. Orpheus, 21 guns, Commodore Barnett, eigbt days out from Sydney, with stores for H. M. Ship's on the New Zealand station. Tbe pilot then went on board the Wonga Wonga, took the two boats in tow, and proceeded to the scene of disaster. On arriving there he found that the sea was makingacomplete breach over the vessel and she was of course laboring very heavily. He then fouud it was impossible to get alongside with the boats, io consequence of the heavy sea; the boats were therefoie pulled as* close as possible under the jib-boom, and the officers in "charge of them, called to the crew to jump into the water, and they wonld pick them up, as it was the only chance left of saving their lives. Several of the men jumped into the water, and were picked up by the boats ; butsomewereunfortunately drowned in tbesurf by the/lrawback. At this slage of the proceedings the scene was most appalling, the only chance of the crew getting saved, being to jump into the boiling surf. All the mon at this time wete clinging to the rigging. The Wouga Wonga was steaming us close as possible to the scene of the wieck, and was fearfully tossed about with the tumultuous sea. The boats returned to the Wonga, haviug succeeded in picking up about 14 of the drowning men. Several of the men were nearly exhausted, and every means were adopted to restore animation, by the application of hot blankets, and other remedies. Several who were wounded and very much bruised, had their wounds dressed, and every possible attention shown them. The boats in charge of the second Lieutenant again gallantly put off to the wreck, aud succeeded Jn rescuing several from a watory graver By this time it was becoming dark, and the pilot no! deemiug it prudent for the WoDga to remain in the position she was then in, proceeded a short distance into the channel aud anchoredAt this time, the cries of the sufferers were most agonising and appalling, the crew of the ill-fated vessel thinking that the WoDga was abont to leave tbem to their fenrfnl fate. At aboutO o'clock the night being very dark, the foremast went by the board, casting all the poor fellows who were clinging to it, into the raging billows. Immediately after, the main and mizen mast 6 feU over the side, carrying the last of the crew with them. During all tbis time, the most superhuman exertions were being made by the second lieutenant and bis galluntcrews, to rescue his unfortunate shipmates. The two boats and and a boat belonging to the Wong* weye pulling about amidst the breakers until past midnight. All hopes of saviog any more lives having vanished, the pinnace in charge of tbe second lieutenant returned, with several more of the unfortunate crew, to tbe Wonga, and the cutter proceeded into the pilot station, being unable to fetch the Wonga, and landed seven more of the crew, in safety, in* eluding the son of Sir Henry Barkly, the Governor of Victotia, who was acting as midshipman on board the Orpheus at the time of the wreck, and who was saved after cliuging to a spar for upwards of two' hours. Tbe Wonga burnt blue lights, and showed other signals until daylight in the hope of picking up any more of the unfortunate crew who might be floating about the wteck. At daylight, the Wonga proceeded towards the wreck, but hy this time a very small portion of the ill fated vessel was to be seen. The Wonga then steamed in towards the pilot station, and was there met by H M. steam tender Avon, which had Capt. Jenkins, of H M.S. Miranda, on board. The whaleboat belonging to the pilot station, on learning the disaster, had immediately proceeded to Onehunga, and informed those iv charge of H.M.S.S. Harrier of it, when a message was immediately despatched to Capt. Jenkins, of the Miranda, who lost no time in immediately issuing orders for the Harrier and Avon, lying in the Manakau, to get up steam and proceed with ail despatch to the wreck, f Unfortunately, on the Harrier getting uqder weigh, she took the ground, and was thereby unable to render any assistance. ■ Capt. Jenkins then proceeded in the Avon, and on arriving at the Heads, immediately proceeded on board the Wonga. Finding that eveiything had beeri done, that could possibly have been done under tho circumstances, he transhipped the remainder of the unfortunate crew into the Avon, wbich immediately proceeded towards the pilot's station, took on board the crew of tbe cutter, the rest of those who were saved, and proceeded to Onehnnga about noon, for the purpose of obtaining further medical treatment for the crew. Tbe Wonga then proceeded on her course to Taranaki, 1 leaving the heads about noon. There were 67 saved, and 187 lives lost, out of a crew oi 257. 1 Commander Jenkins returned thanks to Capt Renner, his officers, and the crew of tbe '. Wonga, for their praiseworthy exertions and unremitting kindness to the sufferers. One of the captains of the mizen-lop, who . was one of the boat's crew, gallantly jumped . overboard six times, and on each occassion suei ceeded in saving a shipmate from a watery grave, The Commodore was last seen in the miaen • rigging, and is supposed to have been killed by ' the falling of a spar. The second Lieutenant of the Orpheus Lieut. 1 Young, was on his way to join the Miranda. Amongst those saved were three midshipmen, the paymaster, carpenter, and boatswain, the the rest of tbe 67 weie a portion of the crew. Tbe wind was about W. S.W., with a terrific sea on, wheu tbe Orpheus went anhore »